Pneumatic transfer mechanism



Oct. 14, 1958 Filed March 16, 1954 J. w. 'BATCHELDER 2,856,099

PNEUMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ii; iii-3.:

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United States Patent PNEUMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM James W. Batchelder, Ascutney, Vt., assignor to Economy Engineering Company, Willoughby, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,508

12 Claims. (Cl. 221-411) The present invention is directed to a mechanism for transferring work blanks from a supply point to a work station and more particularly to a mechanism for engaging work blanks by vacuum action and presenting the same in specific disposition and exact location to a ma chine for a work operation thereon.

In certain types of thread rolling machines having a pair of driven rotary dies disposed with axes coplanar, the dies are advanced towards each other to engage and roll a thread upon a work piece located with axes coplanar to the die axes and to retract from each other, thereby releasing the work piece upon completion of the thread rolling operation. The movement of the dies in such machine is effected by a mechanism coordinated with the die rotation so that the dies penetrate the work at a suitable rate and, when the thread is completely rolled, release the work, which then usually drops away from the dies by gravity. To present successive work pieces in proper position for engagement by the dies, mechanical devices driven in coordination with the die advancing mechanism have been used, but such mechanical devices have had the inherent disadvantages that the structure thereof was complex, or such that the free release and rapid escape of finished work from the dies was hindered or uncertain. The latter disadvantage usually arose from the use of a blade located beneath the work position between the dies to support or gage the work blank at proper position.

The invention here disclosed is described as applied to a thread rolling machine of this character, the specific embodiment of the invention being adapted to handle a plurality of cylindrical work blanks for the production,

of headless screws, although the mechanism is readily adapted or adjusted for transfer operations involving other types of work pieces such as single tapered work blanks. With minor modifications the disclosed form of the invention is generally adaptable to the manipulation of other work blanks, particularly those having a round cross section and a straight portion along a substantial extent of the length.

In general the invention contemplates the use of a reciprocating vacuum head assembly having a suction nozzle adapted to pick up work blanks near the upper end of a stroke and to carry downward and at the bottom of the stroke to locate the blank in precise position at a work station, as here disclosed between thread rolling dies. Work blanks are accepted in pro-set member from a blank supply conduit by a work piece channel formed between a pair of hinge mounted divergent plates located on opposite sides of the reciprocation path of the head. The plates are so disposed that the channel is located in the path of the vacuum head nozzle and just below the uppermost position thereof, so that on the downward stroke as the nozzle approaches work pieces in the channel, they are drawn by vacuum and held against the nozzle opening, while upon continued downward movement of the head the divergent plates are cammed outwards from the path of the head to completely release the work pieces, which are then carried downwardly to the work position between the dies. The vacuum head itself at the bottom of the down stroke serves as the locating means of the work pieces, means being provided to determine and adjust the lowermost position of the head for any given work piece size. A cam type driving mech anism may be used to effect the reciprocation "of the nozzle in timed relation to the advancing motion of the dies.

The structure of the vacuum head is such that no ments are required beneath the plane of the die axes so that upon completion of thread rolling operation on the blank and retraction of the dies from work position the finished work piece may fall freely. to a chute. or other conveying means, removing the work piece rapidly and without hindrance from the work station Also the reciprocating vacuum head controls the admission or:

work station from above, wherein are obviated engaging and supporting elements beneath the work station which would hinder the release and gravity removal of finished work pieces. A still further object is the provision of a suction head transfer device which is adapted to the handling of work blanks of diverse shapes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the fol-- lowing description and drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the pneumatic transfer mechanism shown in position for introducing work blanks to the thread rolling dies of a thread rolling machine, certain elements of the latter being shown bydashed outlines in fragmentary form;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken as indicated by the lines 33 in Fig. 2 to show details of the vacuum head and work blank locating assemblies of the mechanism; and i Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the actuating post structure of the mechanism taken substantially as shown by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 with certain surrounding elements omitted. 1 p

For illustration this invention is shown as mounted for introducing work pieces or blanks between the thread rolling dies of a thread rolling machine, represented herein in fragmentary form by the rolling dies R, the die spindle bearing housings R-1, the thread rolling machine housing H and a transverse beam T spanning the thread rolling machine, which all appear in dashed outline although H and T support the transfer mechanism. The die mounting and actuating mechanism is such that the dies, with axis coplanar, are advanced toward and retracted from each other to engage, for a thread rolling operation and then release, a work piece at the plane of the die axes which is indicated by the horizontal dashed line in Fig. 2. j

The principal mechanical organizations of this transfer device, designated in the drawings by general reference characters, comprise a base assembly B fixed to the beam T, a slide assembly S vertically reciprocable in an element of the base to support and guide a vacuum head assembly V secured to the slide, a blank receiving assembly A mounted on the base to accept work blanks W from the blank delivery assembly D leading from a Patented Oct. 14, 1958" elef 3' vacuum head reciprocating post P assembly slidably mounted to the machine housing, and a vertically adjustable linkage G connecting the bottom of the head assembly V to the head actuating post P. There is also shown a discharge chute C whereby finished work pieces released and dropped from the dies are guided and delivered from the thread rolling machine. A timing and camming mechanism may be used for post P such as that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,627,767 for the transfer device therein.

The base assembly B comprises a base member bolted to a vertical surface of the transverse beam T and having a projection 11 extending inwardly under T, the vertical face of member 10 being recessed to accommodate a roughly L-shaped bracket 12 transversely bored for laterally adjustable mounting on horizontal slide bar 13 secured in the dependent apertured lugs 14 on member 10 by a set screw15 in one of the lugs. The long horizontal leg of the base bracket 12 extends inwardly under and beyond the horizontal extension 11 of the base member to support the blank receiving assembly A and the blank delivery tube D as hereinafter described.

To secure bracket 12 in adjusted position, a thumb screw 17 is threaded therethrough to bear upon a flat of the slide bar 13, and a clamp plate 18 held by bolts 19 threaded into a vertical projection 20 on the bracket 12 clamps the end of the base extension 11 against a bracket shoulder surface 2011. For slight adjustments in levelingthe bracket, shims may, of course, be used between the clamping means and the base projection.

The slide assembly S whereby the vacuum head assembly is guided in its vertical reciprocation includes as a main guide and support therefor the slide post 22 as a slideway, slideable in a vertical bore in the vertically disposed leg 12a of the bracket 12, with its top end slotted to receive a spacer link 23 fitted and bolted thereto, and an anti-twist guide rod 24 parallel to the post 22 and slideable in a second bore in the bracket lug 25, the upper end of the rod 24 being reduced and threaded to pass through and be secured to a link 23 by a nut 24a. A socket head set screw 21 threaded through the spacer link 23 and held by a jam nut serves as an adjustable stop for the downward motion of the slide in coming to bear upon the upper end of the vertical bracketleg 12a. Preferably bearing sleeve liners are provided in the slide bores of the bracket leg 12a, as well as lubricating nipples communicating with the sliding surfaces.

The vacuum head assembly V includes a body element 26 secured in position off-set to the slide by the horizontal square bar 27 fitted and held by bolts in slots cut in the bottom of the post 22 and in the top of body 26, while at its bottom the body is pivotally connected to the upper end of the linkage system G by a pin 28. The vacuum head proper whereby the work blanks are engaged comprises a like pair of flat side plates 29 secured to the portion 30 projecting from the body 26 inwardly over the working space between the thread rolling dies with opposite sides converging downwardly, so that the plates secured thereto with bottom edges spaced parallel form an elongated V-shaped suction nozzle with a long narrow rectangular nozzle opening extending parallel to the die axis plane. The portion 34 of the body is irregularly cut away from the apical or bottom edge upwardly to provde a vacuum space communicating through the out-bore 30a with a nipple 26a integral on body 26, the nipple carrying a 45 elbow 31 coupled by a quick disconnection coupling 32 to a flexible vacuum hose 33 leading to a vacuum system.

The plates 29 are each adjustably mounted by screws 35 passed through inward slot of the upper plate edges and threaded into the horizontally extended base portion 3% of the projection 30, while the downward continuations thereof, the free or outboard end 300 and the inner continuation 30d, support the lateral edges of the plates, with 30d extended into the vacuum space for addi- '4 tional support of the central plate areas. A replaceable wear strip 36, held by screws on the vertical end face of Site, is provided to take the wear which would result during head reciprocation from work pieces projecting from the blank delivery tube 42 of assembly D against the vacuum head.

The vacuum head assembly also includes a blank end stop bar 38 clamped in a horizontal slot in a lateral face of the body 25 by a clamping screw and plate 39 for endwise adjustment below the vacuum nozzle opening. A pair of camming fingers 45?, disposed on and secured at the upper ends thereof to opposite sides of the body 26 by the screw and slot connection 41, serve to open the blank receiving assembly A upon a downward head stroke as hereinafter described.

In the blank receiving assembly A, a pair of plates 45, normally disposed in a dihedral angle outside, and symmetrical to the plane of movement of, the vacuum head, are pivotally mounted on corresponding blocks 46 as bases by hinges 47, the blocks being secured to the bottom of the lateral flanges 12b of the bracket 12. The distal or lower portions of the plates 45, that is the ends proximate to each other, are formed lengthwise with horizontal grooves 45a of arcuate cross-section, cooperating to provide a blank receiving channel of approximately interrupted cylindrical shape disposed below the level of the vacuum head nozzle with axis parallel thereto. Each block 46, fitted in a recess on the bottom of the corresponding flange 1211 with an upward shoulder on the block gaging the innermost position thereof against a lateral vertical edge of the flange, is held in position by bolts 48 extending through flange edge slots and threaded into the base block 46. The bolt and slot connection thus provided allows some lateral adjustment of the position of the plate 45 for work piece size accommodation if desired.

On the block 46 the lug 46a is recessed upwardly to receive the upper end of a spring 49 hearing downwardly upon a tongue 45b formed on the outwardly bent upper end portion of the plate d5 to bias the plate inwardly to normal position, while a wing bolt 50 passed through apertures in the tongue 45b, lug 46a and through the interposed spring 49 with the wing nut 51 serves to determine the inermost or normal position of the spring plate. A horizontal bar 53, brazed to the outer face of the plate 45 and projecting beyond the plate laterally of the cone sponding cam finger it), carries a cam block 54 having an inner end beveled as a cam face for cooperation with the cam finger 40 on the vacuum head. Thus on a downward stroke of the vacuum head the fingers it) upon encountering the faces of the cam blocks 54- serve to swing the plates 45 laterally against the bias of the springs 49 out of the path of movement of the vacuum head. The cam block 54 may be fitted in a slot of the bar 53 and held by a screw and slot connection to allow for some adjustment of the cam block face position relative to the path of the camming finger 40.

The blank delivery assembly D includes a vertical support rod 43 dependent from bracket 12, and a blank delivery tube 42 having a straight terminal outlet portion clamped to the bottom of rod 43 at a position in alignment with the axis of and spaced from the blank receiving channel provided below the uppermost position of the vacuum nozzle by the cooperating lower end grooves 45a of plates 45. The upper end of support rod 43 is secured to an end face of the bracket 12 by a clamping means permitting vertical adjustment of the rod in positioning of delivery tube outlet. There is also carried on the rod 43 a blank stop 44 having a tongue in alignment with a slot in the upper side of the delivery tube, whereby the delivery of blanks to the channel of receiving assembly may be inhibited as desired by setting the stop with the tongue inserted into tube 42.

Work blanks may be fed into the upper end of the dea cylindrical housing 62 having a mid-flange 62a whereby 1 the assembly is secured by flange bolts 63 to the bottom of the housing H, and a pin 64 fixed in the upper end of rod 60 extending parallel to pin 28 for a pivotal connection of the bottom of the linkage assembly G. In the upper end of the housing 62 a wiper or guard ring 70 may be provided about the rod 60 to keep abrasive debris resulting from machine operations away from the upper bearing sleeve. The rod 60, and therefore the vacuum head actuated thereby, is urged downwardly by a compression spring 65 on housing 62 interposed between and centered on the flange 62a and a collar 66 resting on a lower rod shoulder 60a. The rod is moved upwardly against the bias of the spring 65 by a cam rocked arm 68 connected to the bottom of the rod 60 by a link 69 pivoted to the ends of the rod and arm. The cam mechanism whereby the arm 68 is moved upwardly (not shown here) may be any suitable cam mechanism coordinated with the thread rolling machine driving system to provide a timed reciprocation of the rod and hence of the vacuum head for presenting blanks to the dies in proper thread rolling sequence.

In the linkage assembly G, the upper and lower members 72 and 73, with parallel horizontal bores to receive the pins 28 and 64 respectively, overlap along faces having vertically extended tongue and groove formations with the member 72 vertically slotted for a bolt 74 threaded into lower member 73 to form a link of adjustable length between the vacuum head and the reciprocating rod 60. To facilitate a close length adjustment the lower member 73 has a vertical slot 76 into which extends a pin 77 fixed in the member 72 with an adjusting screw 78 held by a jam nut threaded upwardly from the lower end of member 73 to bear upon the pin 77.

In setting up and adjusting the transfer mechanism with reference to the dies of the thread rolling machine, slight shifts of the plane of reciprocation of the vertical center plane of the vacuum nozzle may be made by moving bracket 12 or bar 13 relative to base and clamping in final position by the means above described, for with the connection of the head to pos'6fi afforded by linkage G, it is unnecessary that the slide assembly S or vacuum head be precisely coplanar with the axis of post 60.

Such shifting, for horizontal adjustment, of bracket 12 with vertical leg 12a providing the slideway for slide 22 of the head likewise simultaneously shifts the two platesas a unit relative to base 10 without disturbing the relation of the plates mutually or to the slide, since the plates are both mounted to the base by common means, the bracket 12.

Since the upward stroke of the actuating post and head is effected against the force of the compression spring 65, compressing the same, by positive application of a cam motion through the rocker arm 68, whereas the downward blank transfer stroke is effected by the force of the compressed spring as the cam element is receding from its point of force application, the terminal point of the transfer stroke and hence the vertical location of a given work blank, is exactly set by the position of the set screw 21 of the slide assembly. The length of the linkage G is selected and adjusted for the terminal point of the upward stroke as required by the location of the blank receiving channel provided by plates 45.

Whether a single blank or a train of several like blanks is delivered endwise from the delivery tube 42 into the trough-or channel formed by grooves 45a for transfer by the vacuum head, the plane of abutment of the blank in the mouth of the tube against the'preceding blank in the channel is located between the end of the vacuum head and the tube by the setting of the adjustable end stop bar 38. Thus the series of blanks being fed through the delivery tube is sheared at such plane without interference of the head movement on the transfer stroke. However, should the plane of abutment sometime by adventitious cause fall at an improper location, no damage to the head or delivery tube will occur, since the transfer stroke is effected by the compression spring rather than by any positive driving mechanism.

In operation of the transfer device, a series of blanks is fed into the upper end of the delivery tube by a bulk loaded hopper feeder or other suitable device adapted where required by the shape of the blanks to introduce the blanks into the tube with like orientation, as in the case of tapered blanks. By gravity or by vibration of the tube the blanks are moved downward to be introduced endwise into the trough or channel provided by the grooves 45a of the blank receiving assembly. The end stop 38 adjusted as previously described positions the end of the blank last received in the trough to permit clean shear of the series of blanks on the transfer stroke. With the disposition of the head nozzle relative to the blank receiving channel as shown in the drawings, the blanks pass slightly below the vacuum nozzle to ensure complete entry of the blank or train of blanks without any premature suction engagement by the nozzle or suction lifting of the blanks, even though a continuous vacuum is applied in the vacuum head. At the beginning of the downward transfer stroke the narrow apical portion of the vacuum nozzle comes into proximity to the work blanks in the receiving channel and a suction engagement or holding of blanks by the nozzle results. The continued downward motion of the head brings the cam fingers 40 into engagement with the cam faces of the blocks 54 to swing the plates 45 laterally out of the path of the vacuum head and to release the work blanks. When the set screw 21 comes to bear upon the bracket arm 12a, the transfer stroke effected by compression spring 65 is terminated with the work blank properly located relative to the tool elements, here the thread rolling dies, of the machine, and the vacuum head dwells at the end of the transfer stroke until the dies have again advanced to engage the work blank.

Thereafter the upward return stroke of the vacuum head is elfected, leaving the blanks in working engagement with the dies, by positive action of the cam mechanism and rocker arm applied through the actuating post 60.

As the vacuum head nears the upper end of the return stroke, the fingers 4-0 clear the cam blocks 54 and the plates 45 swing back into normal position under the bias of the springs 49 at a point where the lower part of the vacuum head yet blocks escape of blanks from the mouth of the delivery tube, so that the series of blanks is re strained from downward movement until after the plates 45 and the work receiving channel formations 45a are in normal blank receiving disposition. When the vacuum head travels the remaining terminal portion of its upward stroke, it clears the end of the delivery tube to release the series of blanks for endwise movement into the blank receiving channel against end stop 38. The vacuum head dwells at its uppermost position until the completion of a work operation on and release of the blanks delivered or transferred by a preceding stroke. Hence by the mutual disposition of the outlet end of tube 42, the channel provided by plates 45, and the vacuum nozzle with the reciprocating motion of the latter a timed escapemerit device is provided for the blanks in magazine or delivery tube 42.

The camming or timing mechanism operating post 60 is, of course, interconnected and coordinated with the driving and timing mechanism of the thread rolling machine, that is, to time the cycle of head movement so that the end of the transfer stroke coincides with the time when the dies are retracted from each other, with the head dwelling at such position until the dies have advanced and engaged the work pieces and at the uppermost position during the rolling operation.

There may be included between the vacuum head and the pump or reservoir of the vacuum system a valve controlled and operated in correlation with the cycle of the vacuum head, so that the vacuum nozzle suction is off at the time of entry of the work blank or blanks into the receiving channel and on after the blanks have been received against the end stop bar 38, remaining on for vacuum application throughout the transfer stroke until after engagement of the blank in the dies. In such case, the clearance shown in the drawings between the vacuum nozzle and the position of the upper surface of the Work blank or blanks is unnecessary. Where a timed application of vacuum in the vacuum head is provided by the use of such valve, the control system of the valve is timed and coordinated with respect to the timing of the transfer stroke, by a control take off or connection to the reciprocating elements of the transfer mechanism or to the thread rolling machine or its cycle timing mechanism.

The vacuum head nozzle and the shape of the plates 4-5, particularly of grooves 45a, may be modified from the form shown for the handling of non-cylindrical work blanks. Thus where tapered work blanks are handled the lower edges of the side plates 2? of the vacuum head may be non-horizontal and so disposed that when a work piece is held by the vacuum nozzle the axis of the tapered blank is parallel to the plane of the die axes. Similar geometrical considerations of the work piece shape would enter into the positioning and shape of the lower nozzle defining edges of the plates 29 where work pieces of non-cylindrical shapes are transferred, or where because of some specific considerations of the machine into which the blanks are transferred the direction of the transfer stroke is not, as here, substantially perpendicular to the plane of the thread rolling dies or perpendicular to an axis of the work piece.

Various means other than the mechanical lifting of the post 60 here disclosed may be used, for example a fluid operated piston or an electromagnetically operated system, suitably timed and controlled with respect to the machine cycle, may be used to lift the post 60 against the spring 65.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for transferring work blanks or the like from the outlet of a magazine to a work station of a machine, comprising: a base adapted for mounting to the machine; a vacuum head reciprocably supported by said base including a vacuum nozzle adapted for vacuum engagement and pickup of work blanks to transfer the blanks to said work station by a transfer stroke; vacuum head reciprocating means to move the head in one direction for a blank transfer stroke and in the opposite direction for a return stroke; conduit means for connecting said vacuum head to a vacuum system; a blank magazine having a blank outlet portion disposed to discharge bianks in a direction generally transverse to the direction of nozzle reciprocation; a pair of opposed members supported by said base at opposite sides of the path of reciprocation of said nozzle with at least one of the members being pivotaliy mounted to said base to swing from normal position and away from the path of the nozzle, said members being mutually shaped and disposed at a normal position to form a work blank receiving channel aligned with the blank outlet portion of the magazine for accepting work blanks from said magazine and holding the same in the path of and for suction engagement by said vacuum nozzle; said nozzle being reciprocated through said channel; cooperating means on said vacuum head and said one of the members whereby said one of the members is swung and restrained from said normal position after vacuum nozzle work blank engagement in the transfer stroke of the head; means biasing said one of the members toward the other for return to normal position after completion of the return stroke of the head.

2. A mechanism for transferring work blanks or the like from a magazine outlet to a work station of a machine, comprising: a base adapted for mounting to the machine; a vacuum head reciprocably supported by said base including a vacuum nozzle adapted for vacuum engagement and pickup of Work blanks to transfer the blanks to said work station by a transfer stroke; vacuum head reciprocating means adapted to move the head in one direction under compression spring force for a blank transfer stroke and in the opposite direction positively for a return stroke; conduit means for connecting said vacuum head to a vacuum system; a blank magazine having a blank outlet portion disposed to discharge blanks in a direction generally transverse to the direction of nozzle reciprocation; a pair of opposed members supported by said base at opposite sides of the path of reciprocation of said nozzle with at least one of the memhers being pivotally mounted to said base to swing from normal position and away from the path of the nozzle, said members being mutually shaped and disposed at a normal position to form a Work blank receiving channel aligned with the blank outlet portion of the magazine for accepting work blanks from said magazine and holding the same in the path of and for suction engagement by said vacuum nozzle; blank positioning means on said vacuum head for locating blanks introduced into said channel relative to said nozzle; said nozzle being reciprocated through said channel; cooperatin means on said vacuum head and said one of the members whereby said one of the members is swung and restrained from said normal position after vacuum nozzle work blank engagement in a transfer stroke; and means biasing said one of the members toward the other for return to normal position after completion of a return stroke of the head.

3. A mechanism for transferring work blanks or the like from a magazine outlet to a Work station of a machine, comprising: a base adapted for mounting to the said machine; a vacuum head reciprocably supported by said base including a vacuum nozzle adapted for vacuum engagement and pickup of work blanks to transfer the blanks to said work station by a transfer stroke; vacuum head reciprocating means adapted to move the head in one direction under compression spring force for a blanktransfer stroke and positively in the opposite direction for a return stroke; conduit means for connecting said vacuum head to a vacuum system; a pair of opposed members supported by said base at opposite sides of the path of reciprocation of said nozzle with at least one of the members being pivotally mounted to said base to swing from normal position and away from the path of the nozzle, said members being mutually shaped and disposed at a normal position to form a work blank receiving channel for accepting Work blanks from said magazine and holding the same in the path of and for suction engagement by said vacuum nozzle; a blank magazine having an outlet adjacent the path of said nozzle and said channel for introducing blanks into the channel; means on said vacuum head and said one of the members whereby the said one of the members is swung and restrained from said normal position after vacuum nozzle engagement of a work blank in a transfer stroke; biasing means urging the said one of the members toward the other for return to normal position for accepting blanks after completion of a return stroke of the head; and means on said vacuum head adapted to block the outlet of said magazine on the transfer stroke and clear the outlet on completion of the return stroke whereby a blank escapement is provided for introduction of blanks to said channel in timed relation to reciprocation of said head.

4. A mechanism for transferring work blanks or the like from the outlet of a magazine to a work station of a machine, comprising: a base adapted for mounting to the machine; a vacuum head reciprocably supported by said base including a vacuum nozzle adapted for vacuum engagement and pickup or work blanks to transfer the blanks to said work station in a blank transfer stroke; flexible conduit means for connecting said vacuum head to a vacuum system; a pair of opposed members supported by said base at opposite sides of the path of reciprocation of said nozzle with at least one of the members being pivotally mounted to said base to swing from normal position and away from the path of the nozzle, said members being mutually shaped and disposed at a normal position to form a work blank receiving channel for accepting work blanks from said magazine and holding the same in the path of and for suction engagement by said vacuum nozzle in a transfer stroke; means on said vacuum head and said one of the members whereby said one of the members is swung and restrained from said normal position after vacuum nozzle engagement of a work blank in a transfer stroke; means biasing the said one of the members toward the other for return to normal position after completion of a return stroke of the head; vacuum head reciprocating means to move said head between said opposed members to a work station of the machine in said transfer stroke and back in said return stroke; and means disposed on said vacuum head to block entrance of blanks to said channel from the magazine outlet during the transfer and return strokes of the head.

5. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in a magazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a pair of members hinged to and extending from spaced positions on the base and resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof to a normal proximate disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mechanism, said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a slide and slideway therefor on said base; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation between said members in a stroke for suction engagement and transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke, and said head having a formation extended parallel to the direction of reciprocation adjacent to said. outlet, whereby said head provides an escapement means blocking entrance of blanks into said channel during a transfer stroke and opening the channel on completion of the return stroke; a camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of the blanks in a transfer stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; and vacuum head reciprocating means.

6. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in amagazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a pair of members hinged to and extending from spaced positions on the base and resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof to a normal proximate disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mecha- 10 nism, said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a slide and slide way therefor on said base; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation in a stroke for suction engagement and transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke; means adjacent the outlet of said conduit and moved by said head for blocking the path of the blanks into said channel on a transfer stroke and opening on the completion of the return stroke; adjustable stop means on said slide to bear upon a portion of the slideway for determining the end of the transfer stroke, and thereby the location of the blank at the work station of the machine; camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of the blanks in a transfer stroke and for the subsequent return stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; and vacuum head reciprocating means including compression spring means to move the head in the said transfer stroke and means to move the head positively against the force of the said spring means in said return stroke.

7. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in a magazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a pair of members hinged to and extending from spaced positions on the base and resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof to a normal proximate disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mechanism, said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a slide and slideway therefor on said base; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation in a stroke for transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke; means adjacent the outlet of said conduit and moved by said head and blocking the path of the blanks into said channel on a transfer stroke and opening on the completion of the return stroke; and adjustable stop element disposed on said head to'project into said channel at the completion of a return stroke thereby determining the position of a blank on said nozzle after suction engagement; camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of blanks in a transfer stroke and for the subsequent return stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; a vacuum head reciprocating means.

8. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in a magazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a pair of members hinged to and extending from spaced positions on the base and resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof toa normal proximate disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mechanism; said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a slide and slideway therefor on said base; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation between said members in a stroke for suction engagement and transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke, and said head having a formation extended parallel to the direction of reciprocation adjacent to said outlet, whereby said head provides an escapement means blocking entrance of blanks into said channel during a transfer and opening the channel on completion of the return stroke; adjustable stop means on said slide to bear upon a portion of the slideway for determining the end of the transfer stroke, and thereby the location of the blank at the work station of the machine; camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of the blanks in a transfer stroke and for the subsequent return stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; and vacuum head reciprocating means including compression spring means to move the head in the said transfer stroke and means to move the head positively against the force of the said spring means in said return stroke.

9. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in a magazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a pair of members hinged to and extending from spaced positions on the base and resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof to a normal proximate disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a downwardly extending conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mechanism, said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a slide and slideway therefor on said base; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation in a stroke for transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke, and said head having a formation extended parallel to the direction of reciprocation adjacent to said outlet, whereby said head provides an escapement means blocking entrance of blanks into said channel during a transfer and opening the channel on completion of the return stroke; an adjustable stop element disposed on said head to project into said channel at the completion of a return stroke thereby determining the position of a blank on said nozzle after suction engagement; camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of blanks in a transfer stroke and for the subsequent return stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; and vacuum head reciprocating means.

10. A mechanism for transport of work blanks received in a magazine to a work station in a machine, comprising: a base for mounting the mechanism to the machine; a slide; a slideway for the slide mounted on the base; a pair of spaced members hinged relative to and extending from the base, said members being resiliently biased to urge the distal portions thereof to a normally proximate relative disposition, said distal portions of the members being mutually shaped and disposed to form a generally horizontal work blank receiving channel when proximate to each other; a conduit forming a magazine for blanks fed to the mechanism, said conduit having a terminal outlet portion aligned with and closely spaced from one end of said channel for introducing work blanks therein; a vacuum head including a vacuum nozzle adapted for suction engagement with blanks in said channel, said head being carried by said slide for reciprocation between said members in a stroke for suction engagement and transfer of blanks from said channel to said work station and a subsequent return stroke; means adjacent the outlet of said conduit and moved by said head for blocking the path of the blanks into said channel on a transfer stroke and opening on the completion of the return stroke; an adjustable stop element disposed on said head to project into said channelat the completion of a return stroke thereby determining the position of a blank on said nozzle after suction engagement; adjustable stop means on said slide to bear upon a portion of the slideway for determining the end of the transfer stroke, and thereby the location of the blank at the work station of the machine; camming means on said head and said members to swing and hold the members apart after nozzle engagement of blanks for release of the blanks in a transfer stroke and for the subsequent return stroke; conduit means for connecting the head to a suction system; and vacuum head reciprocating means including compression spring means to move the head in the said transfer stroke and means to move the head positively against the force of the said spring means in said return stroke.

ll. A mechanism as described in claim 10 wherein said slideway and said members are carried on common mounting means horizontally adjustable on said base transversely of said blank receiving channel for simultaneous adjustment of the head and said members; and said vacuum head reciprocating means is connected to the head by a linkage of adjustable length, whereby the location of a work piece on the nozzle at the end of the transfer stroke into said work station may be adjusted.

12. In a machine having a work station where a machine operation is performed on successive work blanks, a mechanism for introducing work blanks to said work station, comprising: a vacuum head reciprocably mounted to the machine for repeated movement in a reciprocation cycle from an initial point downward to the work station in a blank transfer stroke, and a return stroke to the initial point, said head carrying a vacuum nozzle adapted in shape for suction engagement and holding of a work blank; a pair of members movably mounted relative to the machine and having at opposite sides of the reciprocation path and below the initial point of said nozzle opposed portions biased toward each other and shaped and cooperating to form a channel for receiving and positioning work blanks in the path of said nozzle for suction engagement thereby; a conduit having an outlet adjacent one end of and aligned with said channel serving as a blank magazine feeding blanks thereto; blank stop means at the other end of said channel; said head including means extending from the nozzle in the direction of reciprocation to block the outlet of blanks from the conduit during a transfer stroke, whereby said conduit, channel and head cooperate as an escapement device intermittently releasing blanks into the path of said nozzle for transfer to said station; camming means on said members and head to separate said members after vacuum work piece engagement on a transfer stroke; conduit means connecting said head to a vacuum system; and vacuum head reciprocating means on said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,320,712 Brenzinger June 1, 1943 

